Rutgers athletics director Julie Hermann spoke candidly to a journalism class in February about fundraising, football alumni donations, and the incidents involving Mike Rice and Jevon Tyree. The audio became public Saturday. (AP)

PISCATAWAY — Full audio of the already infamous classroom lecture given in February by Julie Hermann became public Saturday, and it turns out that Rutgers athletics director was critical of more than just a New Jersey newspaper, including some prominent alumni and the university president’s subsidy plan.

Hermann can be heard on the tape posted on the Raritan River Review (www.raritanriverreview.wordpress.com) saying that Rutgers president Robert L. Barchi’s plan for Rutgers athletics to be subsidy-free in six years is “almost impossible” because of the amount of projection involved.

Hermann said part of the problem with the nation-high $47 million subsidy is the strain caused by number of varsity athletics teams (24) at Rutgers. She pointed to the backlash when Rutgers cut down from 30 at the end of 2007 as a way to provide financial relief.

“It was a political bomb and fundraising revenues plummeted at the university,” Hermann said. “Some of the people most committed to the institution are the ones who played here — and often not football players because they don’t seem to give back. What’s up with those guys? Rowers and fencers and swimmers go on and become physicians and write big checks back.”

Rutgers currently has 27 alumni in the NFL and head football coach Kyle Flood strongly refuted suggestions they don’t give back.

“I think those comments are ill-advised because somebody like Shaun O’Hara is in the process of endowing a $100,000 scholarship, former player Dax Strohmeyer has donated close to $200,000 to our linebacker room, Marco Battaglia has donated money,” Flood said. “I think anybody who understands fundraising knows that the major gifts are not given by people in their 20s or even their 30s. They are given from people in the 40-50 range. It’s where you start to see those kind of donations being made. The majority of our NFL players who will hopefully someday be in a position to give those type of gifts are not at that age yet. It doesn’t surprise me.”

Flood continued, “I would also say that when people talk about donating back to their university it’s about a lot more than just money. It’s about your time. The time they volunteer back to us as a football program. I don’t think you can put a pricetag on that. When a player is on Monday Night Football and announces himself as ‘Devin McCourty, Rutgers University,’ you can’t put a pricetag on what that does for us as a university and what that does for us as a football program. It’s certainly not an opinion that I share.”

About Ryan Dunleavy

Ryan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.

Follow Scarlet Scuttlebutt on Twitter and Facebook

Move your mouse over a day

With Nadir Barnwell listed as doubtful for this week's game with an upper body injury, Rutgers is down to three healthy, experienced cornerbacks. One of those three players, sophomore Anthony Cioffi, is preparing to make his third start of the season if called upon

Rutgers heads to the road for the first time in four weeks when it travels to East Lansing to take on Michigan State this weekend. Get caught up on all the major storylines from today's practice in the Scarlet Nation notebook

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Kevin Snyder's first responsibility is that of a starting middle linebacker, but the knowledgeable senior must also prepare for long snapper duties. As the backup to the struggling Alan Lucy, Snyder explained his thoughts on the long snapping situation.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood met the media Wednesday afternoon to discuss his plans at running back and expectations for No. 10 Michigan State on the road. Either Josh Hicks or Robert Martin gets the start at running back Saturday, becoming the fourth at the position this season behind Paul James, Desmon […]

This week, our Scarlet Knights clinched bowl eligibility with a sweet win over the Hoosiers of Indiana. Let's GIF it up in celebration! GIFs of the Week: Rutgers v. Indiana #5 - Run For The Hills... RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIII-IIIIIIFE. #4 - Double Vision or Two Killer Frosh RBs? Also, Michale Burton blocks like a […]

It wasn't a noon start. Check. It wasn't raining. Check. It was an important game, one to gain bowl eligibility. Check. And we couldn't get 50,000 or a full student section. Really? Before Saturday's Indiana game, Rutgers was averaging 51,260 at home games (and we all know that means tickets sold). The less than stellar […]

Result: Rutgers (6-4, 2-4) knocked off Indiana 45-23 to earn bowl eligibility on Saturday. Need to Know: In its first season in the Big Ten Conference, Rutgers is now bowl eligible and snapped a three-game losing streak in the process. Gary Nova threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns and Leonte Caroo had five catches […]

About the Author

Jerry CarinoJerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.E-mail Jerry

Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004 and began covering Shore Conference sports full time in September 2006. He is a 2004 graduate of Springfield College with a degree in communications/sports journalism.E-mail Josh

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan